China has ordered Tesla, the world’s dominant maker of electric vehicles, to recall 1.1 million vehicles, citing an issue with the acceleration and braking systems of certain models manufactured in China and abroad.
China’s market regulator announced the decision after carrying out an investigation into a reported defect, according to a statement issued on Friday. The recalled vehicles include some imported Model S, Model X, Model 3 cars, as well as Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that were manufactured between Jan. 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023.
The issue involves the vehicles’ regenerative braking system, which generates electricity from the car’s motion when the driver takes a foot off the accelerator. The State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement that the cars might not provide a warning when the driver presses hard on the accelerator for a long period.
The defect could lead to increased risk of collisions, the statement said.
Tesla said it would fix the vehicles with a software update sent wirelessly to the vehicles, the regulator’s statement said.
This is the second Tesla recall in China in recent months. In March, Tesla recalled 2,649 vehicles manufactured between October 2015 and August 2020 after China’s regulator said the hoods of certain imported Model S vehicles were at risk of opening while the vehicle was operating, increasing the risk of collisions.
China is a significant market for Tesla, with revenue from the country increasing to $18.2 billion last year from $13.8 billion in 2021. The recalls will begin on May 29, and Tesla will notify relevant car owners by mail or text. China’s regulator did not say how many of the recalled Teslas were imported.
Tesla has also faced issues with U.S. regulators. In February, Tesla recalled more than 362,000 cars equipped with its Full Self Driving driver-assistance system after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found it increased the risk of accidents.
The driver-assistance system, which can steer, accelerate, brake and change lanes on its own, allowed vehicles to travel above legal speed limits and through intersections in “an unlawful or unpredictable manner,” the agency said in documents posted on its website. It said Tesla was not aware of any deaths or injuries caused by the flaws the agency had identified.
In January, Tesla disclosed in a regulatory filing that the Justice Department had asked it for documents related to the company’s self-driving software, a potential setback for Elon Musk, the chief executive. As regulators investigate the safety of this technology, some Tesla owners have filed lawsuits on the grounds that Tesla’s self-driving software does not live up to Mr. Musk’s promises.
